U.S.M.C. CH-53E Super Stallion

Al Asad, Iraq, 09 January 2005 —
A CH-53E Super Stallion, carrying a decommissioned Assault Amphibian Vehicle, creates a dust storm behind it as the pilot prepares to lower the nearly 25,000 pound load to the desert floor. A pair of heavy-lift helicopters, from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (reinforced), Marine Aircraft Group 16, conducted dual point external lifts of several broken down Iraqi armored personnel carriers and two AAV’s at Al Asad, Iraq. The vehicles were moved to a range for use as aerial target practice by Marine Aircraft traveling out on missions.